Drivers in Japan are now required to slow down as the speed limit on residential roads has been reduced from 60km/h (37mph) to 30km/h. This change, which took effect on Tuesday, aims to enhance safety for pedestrians on narrow urban streets.
New Speed Limit Implementation
The new speed limit applies to residential roads that lack a center line or maximum speed signs. These narrow roads, often found in crowded Japanese cities, pose significant risks to pedestrians, particularly children and the elderly, who are more likely to be involved in serious accidents.
According to the Mainichi Shimbun, the measures affect approximately 870,000 km of roads that are less than 5.5 meters wide and do not have center lines or median strips. This accounts for about 70% of the country’s general roads.
Safety Concerns and Statistics
Authorities are implementing these restrictions in response to concerns that residential areas have not seen the same safety improvements as larger roads. While the overall number of traffic accident fatalities has decreased to a record low of 2,457 last year, incidents involving children and older adults on residential roads have remained steady at around 300 per year since 2021. Notably, fatalities in this demographic rose for the first time in three years in 2025.
